Methods of Historiography

Name: Methods of Historiography
ISBN: 9787101130720

王尔敏Zhonghua Book Company · ChinaDec 2021

3.9

Word count: 166K words
Chapters: 32
ISBN: 9787101130720

Report an error Find this book

Summary

Mr. Wang Ermin once taught a course on "Historical Method" at the Graduate Institute of History of National Taiwan Normal University, and this book is compiled from his lecture notes. Its main contents include the handling of historical sources, the reconstruction of historical facts, historical theory, choosing a topic, organizing structure, the value of historical research, and even the citation and annotation aspects of paper writing—in short, it discusses all the many aspects involved in historical research. The methods Mr. Wang Ermin sets out here are not derived from theoretical deduction but from actual research, accumulated from the experience of many people over many years, and he proposes generally applicable principles for wide use by those pursuing scholarship. The author possesses both outstanding historical insight and rich experience in writing; his Historical Method is by no means a hastily written work, and what it discusses and sets forth has, for both history enthusiasts and historical researchers, the marvelous effect of a golden needle that guides others and the power to turn stone into gold. The book is therefore essential reading for anyone entering the field of historical research.

Editor's review

Wang Ermin's Historical Method is a weighty and enduring classic of methodology in the field of Chinese historical studies. It is not a dry technical manual but the historical wisdom of a deeply learned and thoughtful historian, showing his lifelong reflections on scholarship and practical experience brought together. The book is highly systematic, constructing a complete methodological system that runs from the collection, authentication, and textual criticism of historical sources to the interpretation of historical events, historical narrative, and even the cultivation and ethics of the historian. Its discussion especially emphasizes the cultivation of "historical insight," stressing the key role of the historian as subject in interpreting sources and constructing historical pictures, and avoiding the tendency to mechanize and technologize historical research. The author cites extensively, drawing on numerous classic cases from Chinese and Western historiography, making the theoretical exposition vivid and profound. For today's readers, the value of the book lies not only in learning specific research steps but also in understanding, through the window of methodology, the disciplinary essence and intellectual charm of history, and in cultivating a prudent, critical, and humanely concerned historical way of thinking. Whether as a guide for beginners in history or as a reference for seasoned researchers reflecting on their own scholarly paths, the book offers rich intellectual resources.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Undergraduate and graduate students in history, literature, philosophy, and related fields, as core methodological reading
Amateur enthusiasts with a strong interest in historical research who wish to understand systematically how historical work is carried out
Researchers in the humanities and social sciences who need to draw on historical thinking and methods
Secondary school history teachers hoping to deepen their understanding of the discipline to improve teaching

Not a good fit for

Casual readers seeking only historical stories or anecdotes and with no interest in research methodology
Utilitarian learners expecting quick, formulaic paper-writing templates and unwilling to think deeply

Reading tips

It is recommended to read the whole book first to grasp the overall framework of the methodology, then read the relevant chapters closely in connection with one's own research questions
Keep a notebook while reading to record the classic historical works and cases cited in the book as an extended reading list
Combine the book's methods with one's own reading or research practice, and try using them to analyze a familiar piece of history to deepen understanding

About the publisher

Zhonghua Book Company China · Founded in 1912

Zhonghua Book Company is a publisher known for collating ancient texts and academic publishing, with its output centered on Eastern philosophy, culture, classic works, art, and historical reading. Its library contains 532 titles, including Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Guo Qingfan's Collected Commentaries on Zhuangzi, the four-volume Chinese Literature: Four Great Classical Novels, and the two-volume Table of Seal and Clerical Script Forms from Qin, Han, Wei, and Jin. These titles span historical classics, commentaries on the philosophers, classical novels, and philological reference works. Representative authors include Chen Shou, Guo Qingfan, Wu Cheng'en, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Luo Guanzhong, Xu Wenwu, and the Hanyu Dazidian character-form group, reflecting a focus on primary sources and scholarly editors. Its publishing character lies in combining authoritative editions and annotated texts with both accessible classics and specialized research. Public information on its fuller catalog is limited; this note describes only the directions evident in the library's holdings.

版权信息
第一章引论
第二章原论
第一节史字
第二节史职
第三节史籍
第四节口传史
第五节史学
第六节史家
第三章通论
第一节史料
第二节史实
第三节记注
第四节解释
第五节理论
第四章分论
第一节选题
第二节结构
第三节引证
第四节表谱
第五节图版
第六节考辨
第七节注脚
第八节叙例
第九节文笔
第十节汇余
第五章余论
附录阅读心得举例
征引书目
甲专书
乙论文
增补书目

FAQ

Is this book too difficult for someone without a background in history?

The author's discussion is clear and progresses from the simple to the deep. Although specialized concepts are involved, they are all explained in detail. As long as one has a basic interest in history and is willing to invest thought, non-specialist readers can also gain great inspiration and understand how historians work.

What are the features of this book's edition and content?

This book is a representative work of Wang Ermin's historical methodology, published by the authoritative Zhonghua Book Company. Its content is systematic and its thought profound; it is a classic textbook of historical method recognized in the Chinese-speaking world, and its views have withstood the test of time.

What can one mainly gain from reading this book?

The main gain is to establish a systematic understanding of historical research, master the core methods and intellectual principles from handling historical sources to forming historical judgments, and, more importantly, cultivate a rigorous, critical, and insightful historical way of thinking, which is beneficial in any field requiring deep analysis and argumentation.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

王尔敏 Author

Wang Erming is a Chinese author about whom limited public information is available; only two works can currently be confirmed. In Historical Methods, he focuses on the basic approaches and scholarly training involved in historical research, discussing such issues as the analysis of sources and forms of argument, for readers who wish to understand how historians are trained. Jingju Letters: Seventeen Letters to Liu Zengfu is written in epistolary form and deals with Peking opera and related observations in a relaxed tone, suggesting an exchange of views and a seeking of advice. The two books span quite different subjects—academic method and operatic culture—and together show the author's reading interests and writing orientation in the humanities. On the available evidence, his writing tends to be practical and concrete, valuing the connection between experience and scholarly principle, and is suitable for readers interested in an introduction to historiography or in Peking opera culture.